Banksy quotes

Banksy is a world-renowned anonymous street artist and political activist from England. His graffiti art often features satirical and thought-provoking imagery on social and political issues. He continues to intrigue audiences worldwide with his elusive identity and creative impact. Here are 113 of his quotes:

I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said 'that's a clever anagram of art' and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.

Banksy

Sometimes I feel so sick at the state of the world I can't even finish my second apple pie.

Banksy

You can win the rat race but you're still a rat.

Banksy

People seem to think that if they dress like a revolutionary, they don't actually have to behave like one.

Banksy

Art is not like other culture because its success is not made by its audience. The public fill concert halls and cinemas everyday, we read novels by the millions, and buy records by the billions. 'We the people' affect the making and quality of most of our culture, but not our art.

Banksy

I used to tell everyone I met to be an artist..... I don't do that any more.

Banksy

People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.

Banksy

Fight the fighters, not their wars.

Banksy

Writing graffiti is about the most honest way you can be an artist. It takes no money to do it, you don't need an education to understand it, and there's no admission fee.

Banksy

A lot of mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves.

Banksy

The Art we look at is made by only a select few. A small group create, promote, purchase, exhibit and decide the success of Art. Only a few hundred people in the world have any real say. When you go to an Art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires.

Banksy

Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place.

Banksy

All artists are willing to suffer for their work. But why are so few prepared to learn to draw?

Banksy

Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else.

Banksy

The human race is the most stupid and unfair kind of race. A lot of the runners don't even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water. Some runners are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side. It's not surprising a lot of people have given up compeating altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk and shout abuse. What the human race needs is a lot more streakers.

Banksy

We don't need any more heroes; we just need someone to take out the recycling.

Banksy

I need someone to protect me from all the measures they take in order to protect me.

Banksy

People who get up early in the morning cause war, death and famine.

Banksy

As far as I can tell the only thing worth looking at in most museums of art is all the schoolgirls on daytrips with the art departments.

Banksy

Remember crime against property is not real crime. People look at an oil painting and admire the use of brushstrokes to convey meaning. People look at a graffiti painting and admire the use of a drainpipe to gain access.

Banksy

People who enjoy waving flags don't deserve to have one.

Banksy

There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.

Banksy